The Heaton File

Now Israel remained in Acacia Grove, and the people began to commit harlotry with the women of Moab. They invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor, and the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of the people and hang the offenders before the Lord, out in the sun that the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel.” So Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Every one of you kill his men who were joined to Baal of Peor.” And indeed, one of the children of Israel came and presented to his brethren a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. Now when Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose from among the congregation and took a javelin in his hand; and he went after the man of Israel into the tent and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her body. So the plague was stopped among the children of Israel. And those who died in the plague were twenty-four thousand. Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned back My wrath from the children of Israel, because he was zealous with My zeal among them, so that I did not consume the children of Israel in My zeal. Therefore say, ‘Behold, I give to him My covenant of peace; and it shall be to him and his descendants after him a covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was zealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel.'” (Numbers 25:1-13)

The Zeal Of Phinehas

Sin is never tolerated by the Lord and often He would react against the nature of man to punish them. On one occasion it was the grandson of Aaron the priest who acted in accordance with righteousness and truth to stop a vile act from happening before the tabernacle of meeting. The people of Israel had come to the land of the Moabites and remained in Acacia Grove. Balak the king of Moab had tried unsuccessfully to bring a curse upon the Israelites through the prophet Balaam but it was through the persuasion of the prophet the children of God were lead into committing harlotry with the women of Moab. Angered by this, the Lord began to plague the people in a terrible manner that would lead to the deaths of twenty-four thousand Israelite’s. Moses was instructed by God to execute those who were joined to Baal of Peor. While this is being done an Israelite named Zimri brought a Midianite woman named Cozbi to the tabernacle of meeting and presented her before the people. It has been suggested the language of the text suggests the two were engaged in sexual immorality at the time and as a blatant refusal to submit to the will of the Lord. Phinehas could not allow such an outrage to continue and the scriptures speak of his zeal being aroused to punish the couple. Taking a javelin in hand he goes into the tent where Zimri and Cozbi are and thrust them through stopping the plague among the people. The wrath of God was stayed because of the zeal of Phinehas. His family will be blessed for generations to come as he showed great character in doing what needed to be done and exercising a decisive act of God’s holiness against sin.

Phinehas is a man of courage who took upon himself the task of establishing holiness and setting a pattern for the faithful to follow. Sin has been the problem of man since the garden of Eden but what has been lacking are the faithful who are willing to stand for holiness in a world of ungodliness. The world of Noah was destroyed by a flood but eight people made a conscious decision to stand against the norms of society and remain faithful to the Lord. Noah condemned the world by his willingness to stand for truth pleading for others to see the coming day of the Lord. As the waters engulfed the world everyone knew the eight safely protected in the ark were right but it was too late. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were four young men taken from their homes to a land of strange gods, food, language and culture. Everything about them was vile and corrupt as the nation of Babylon served the pagan culture of a wicked society. In all of their dealings with the Babylonians these four men took a stand against those things that were unholy and immoral. Their zeal for the Lord was unmatched as they stood before the king defiant to serve his will whether in eating certain foods, falling down to an image of gold or obeying the law of the land to not pray to Jehovah God. Like Phinehas they had a zeal for truth and acted upon it. When the early church first began and persecution arose against the disciples, brave men and women stood before the Jewish oppression and Roman persecution and boldly proclaimed their allegiance to the King they served and with zealous hearts of faith preached the word of God in a world filled with hatred, animosity and immorality. Many gave their lives for what they stood for. Their zeal was not fanatical but fantastic. They believed in the power of God and lived every day with that zeal burning in the hearts.

There is a need for men like Phinehas in the Lord’s church today who will take the javelin of truth and stand for those things that are righteous, true and holy. The work of the Lord is built upon hearts that are courageous enough to be set apart from the world and let the norms of society see the holiness of God. Too many Christians compromise with the world and like the people of God adulterate themselves with the schemes of the world to be like the world. When the Israelite’s were in Achaia Grove they committed harlotry with the women of Moab. While the people of God today may not engage in the sexual promiscuity of the world yet their hearts are filled with the worldly desires to dress like the world, act like the world and live like the world. Churches are being filled with women who parade themselves with immodest dress. Social drinking is an accepted character of those who are ignorant and weak in their faith to serve the one true God. Apathy rules in the hearts of many who find worship to the Lord dull and without purpose. Children are being taught to love the world instead of loving God. They are not shown the way of holiness but popularity. Success is measured by the standards of the world instead of the word of God. In this world there is a need for those in the church to have the zeal of Phinehas and take the standard of truth and boldly assert the claim of righteousness among the people of God. Fathers need to a stand for truth leading the family of God. Mothers must show the children the way of modesty and propriety. Young people can be wonderful examples of Phinehas as they stand against the wiles of youthful pleasure. The church needs a host of men like Phinehas who are filled with a zeal for the Lord. Men and women of action who believe in the cause of the Lord will act with courage. Churches that are strengthened with the zeal of serving the King according to the will of God will shed a light of righteousness in a world blackened by sin. There is never been a greater time for zeal to fill the hearts of God’s people and to regain the cause of Christ in a perverse and wicked generation than now. Rise up. Be zealous. Serve the cause.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3)

All Those Spiritual Blessings

There is no greater joy a man can express than knowing God so loved the world to give His only begotten Son and through that gift receive so many spiritual blessings. Never before in the history of man has there a time when men could enjoy from the treasure house of God the eternal blessings as those found in Jesus Christ. Job, Noah, Abraham, Moses and David knew the salvation of God but could never imagine the fulfillment of living under the law of Christ and the redeeming blood of God. Paul begins his letter to Ephesus proclaiming the immeasurable blessings each Christian enjoys from the incredible grace of God. The blood of bulls and goats is not the saving measure of salvation in Christ but the precious blood of the Son of God. With all the thousands of sacrifices made through the centuries seeking to redeem man none could take away sin but the blood of Jesus. Every Christian remembers the sacrifice of Jesus when they take of the Lord’s Supper and what a time of thanksgiving this should be. There was nothing man could do to save himself but Jesus died to save man. Each day should be an expression of love for the incredible gift of God giving His Son who willingly allowed man to kill Him on the cross. As He was dying Jesus prayed the Father to forgive those who were killing Him. Rising from the dead on the third day, God gave all men the opportunity to know the spiritual blessings of redemption in Christ if they would come to Him and obey Him. Living life without the guilt of sin is a blessing. Knowing we are redeemed by the blood of Christ is a blessing. Seeing the wrath of God removed is an eternal blessing of knowing eternal life promised is eternal life given.

All spiritual blessings are in Christ. Forgiveness first came in obedience to the will of the Lord when a man is baptized into Christ. Putting on Christ in baptism is the moment the blood of Jesus washes away all sins and purifies the spirit of man to stand whole and clean before the Father. What a joy to know that all sins are taken away as far as the east is from the west and the wrath of God is taken away. In Christ a man enjoys the joy of forgiveness. Through prayer and supplication with sorrowful hearts, children of God seek the forgiveness of sins and the Father takes the sin away. This cannot be done outside of Christ until a person in obedient faith is subject to the plan of salvation. Peter told the first disciples on Pentecost to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins. When they obeyed the word of the Lord their sins were remitted. The spiritual blessing of forgiveness is only found through Christ and in Christ. Prayer is an avenue enjoyed by the children of God alone. A man outside of Christ can seek God and find Him but the joy of continued communication with the Father and asking for all the spiritual blessings is something only found in Christ. Only the children of God can call the Father, “Abba.” To be an heir with Christ one must be in Christ. Inheritance only comes to those who are part of the family of God and this can only be found in the spiritual blessings in Christ. How blessed it is to be in Christ and receive the blessings of a loving and caring Father. He gladly bestows His bounty upon His children to care for them, watch over them and bless them with His presence, His word and His love.

All spiritual blessings are in Christ and should never be taken for granted. Worship is a time to sing praises to the Father who saved His children through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The church is made up of saints who are blessed with His love. Thanksgiving must always be on the heart of those who know the Father’s love. Being together with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ is one of the greatest joys in the spiritual trove of blessings in Christ. Praying for one another is a blessing in Christ. Lifting one another up is a blessing in Christ. Exhorting, encouraging, admonishing and challenging one another is what makes the blessings in Christ so important and vital to the life of a Christian. All of God’s family is blessed with the knowledge they share the same Father and He blesses all of His children with their needs in full proportion. Give praise to God for all the spiritual blessings enjoyed in being a child of God.

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.” (Genesis 17:1)

The Almighty

Names mean a great deal when speaking of the Lord God who created the world and established His rule among men. The Father does not have a singular name and is described in many different ways as He revealed Himself to man through the long history of the world. Each name served its purpose to define the character of the Lord God. There is no name as powerful as the manner Abram is introduced to the Lord God he served. Twenty-four years earlier the Lord called the son of Terah to leave his family and everything he knew. He was told he would be given a vast tract of land and through a seed yet born the nations of the earth would be blessed. Abram believed God and he followed the will of the Lord going wherever the word of God directed. At the age of ninety-nine, the Lord he served had incredible news. Abram and Sarai would have a son in its proper time. It was inconceivable to think a man who would be one hundred years of age and a wife of nine decades would be blessed with a child. The man of faith did not consider the promise as impossible although his body was dead for procreation and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. In its proper time a son was born to the praise and glory of the one called Almighty God. Conceiving a child and bringing a healthy child into the world for people of age like Abraham and Sarah can only be explained through the mighty power of the Creator. The name of God fit the occasion to show how incredibly powerful the Lord God manifests His glory among men. God is the Almighty because there is nothing He cannot do.

The Almighty spoke the world into existence and formed man from the dust of the ground. He took a rib of Adam and made the Woman. The world was established by the hand of the Almighty who can hold the vast reaches of space within the palm of His hand. Almighty God has a name for every star and knows what every sparrow is doing on the face of the earth. Through His power and might He destroyed the world of Noah killing everything with the breath of life save eight souls. His grace afforded an avenue of escape for the righteous few. With His great power as the Almighty the Lord God brought Egypt low and exalted the Hebrews to be a great nation among nations. No army could stand before the army of the Almighty as He crushed all those who stood against Him. In time His great power was used against His own people as they turned their backs on the Almighty. He blessed them with immeasurable bounty but they refused to hearken to the warnings. By the hand of the Almighty the Assyrian and Babylonian nations wreaked havoc on His people. From the remnant of the righteous the nation was restored to await the coming of the Kingdom of God. Again the Almighty comes to a young family and through a virgin named Mary God sends the world His only begotten Son. Throughout the life of Jesus God gives testimony of His power and might. The son of God raises the dead, heals all diseases, exercises power over nature and the demon world and opens His arms wide to allow man to kill Him. It was on the first day of the week the Almighty asserts His power to raise Jesus from the dead to live evermore. The Almighty establishes the church of Christ to be the kingdom of salvation and truth as it continues to stand for righteousness and truth for two thousand years. One day the Father will send the Son with His mighty angels gathering the faithful to His eternal bosom and destroying in torment those who deny Him. He is the Almighty and He has all power and might.

Knowing the Almighty and how powerful He has shown Himself to be through the ages, what is there in my life that He cannot fix, resolve, change and make better for my good? There is nothing God cannot do in my life if I will allow Him to work in my life. If God can raise Jesus from the dead – the Almighty God can do anything and everything. There can be no greater power than shown by the Almighty destroying all the earth with a great flood and that same power can work for good in my life today if I will be seek His word and His will in my life. Anything I need will be found in the grace of God. He can change my attitude, my will, my desires and my life if I trust the power of the Almighty. It is imperative that I come to know the name ALMIGHTY GOD as the One who can change my life. The problem always comes from a heart that does not believe. God told Abram the Almighty God was going to bring a child into their lives and He did. What can this same Almighty God do in your life? There are no limitations if you let Him dwell in your heart. The Almighty God can resurrect a dead marriage, repair broken relationships, forgive past slights, bring peace and hope to a desperate life. He is the ALMIGHTY. There is none greater.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. (2 Corinthians 10:3-6)

We Are At War

Conflict has always been the blight of man. Wars have destroyed families, wrecked economies and brought down nations. Death is the prevalent consequence of war and there is never joy or happiness that comes with the mass confliction of men against men. Every generation endures the tragedy of war. Peace is a dream that will never be realized in the human experience because there will always be a despot who wants more power and hatred of others fuels the emotions of revenge and thirst for blood. Jesus did not come to take away war. He offered a solution to the problem but also gave the challenge that when peace is found there is another war to fight. The Son of God highlighted the reason for murder, wrath and hatred when He showed men the consequence of sin. Wars fought by men against one another come from revenge but when a person becomes a child of God another war takes places that comes from grace. Satan is the great adversary and he will seek every opportunity and advantage to kill the soul of man. His plan is simple – he attacks the heart of the Christian to fill it will evil, hatred, lust and corruption. Wars fought in the flesh have little consequence on the eternal scheme but battle for the eternal spirit of man has everlasting significance. Paul clearly shows that while a man walks in the flesh a greater battle awaits the life of those who follow the King of Kings.

The weapons of the spiritual war are not shaped with iron and steel but the courage and faith of the godly men and women who seek a crown of life. Satan is limited in what he can bring to bear upon the individual. With as much power the serpent of old possesses he cannot force anyone to do anything beyond their will. He suggests, consoles and tempts man with his flattering words but he cannot (and never has) forced anyone to do evil. The wiles of the devil suggest arguments that seek to elevate the wisdom of man above God through the activity of the mind. When Satan came to Eve in the garden he merely suggested the word of God should be challenged and that God was unfair in His limitations. Eve took of the fruit by her will as did Adam. Her disobedience was caused by the deception of the serpent and when Adam took of the fruit man fell from the grace of his Creator suffering the penalty of spiritual separation. Expelling man from the garden was another consequence of losing the battle to Satan. Jesus Christ came to restore the paradise of Eden to the soul of man offering the avenue of escape through the grace and love of the Father. But the war still rages.

As soldiers of Christ, the weapons used against the forces of evil are mighty in God. These instruments of righteousness can pull down the strongholds of lustful passions that fill the eyes and pleasure the flesh. Pride is broken when the sword of the Spirit attacks the arguments of unrighteousness. When the mind exalts itself against the glory of the one true God the battlements of truth engage in a fierce battle to destroy disobedience. Obedient followers of Christ will not allow the influences of the flesh to inhibit their spirit of fighting against the wiles of the devil. As valiant soldiers of the cross they will strongly suppress the evils of a corrupt mind. Every thought will be brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. This is a great war but one that must be fought. It will take all the courage a man and woman can muster. The greatest joy of fighting this war is knowing how the battles end. Reading the Revelation of John the soldiers of Christ sees Jesus riding on a white horse with the name KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS inscribed upon His thigh and a great army following the KING on white horses. Victory is assured and the saints of God gain the victory. This final battle has not been waged but the foretaste of victory is sweet to the senses. We are at war but we fought a war that was won two thousand years ago when God raised His Son from the dead. Praise God for His infinite wisdom and power and love to give all men His Son to overcome the evil one. Keep fighting. Victory will be realized through the grace of God.

Let my cry come before You, O Lord; give me understanding according to Your word.

Let my supplication come before You; deliver me according to Your word. My lips shall utter praise, for You teach me Your statutes. My tongue shall speak of Your word, for all Your commandments are righteousness.

Let Your hand become my help, for I have chosen Your precepts. I long for Your salvation, O Lord, and Your law is my delight.

Let my soul live, and it shall praise You; and let Your judgments help me. I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Your servant, for I do not forget Your commandments.

(Psalm 119:169-176)

A Closing Prayer Of Lets

The 119^th psalm is a wonderful declaration of the power of God’s word. There are few rivals for the beauty and grandeur of its message, its prose and its style of bursting on the pages of holy writ the incredible majesty of how the commandments, precepts, laws and words of God change the hearts of penitent men. The psalmist has fully developed the theme of obedience to the will of the Lord and declared the blessings of following the law of God with a willing heart. Using the Hebrew alphabet as the foundation of his discourse, the psalmist closes his thematic revelation with a humble and ardent prayer. “He seems to break into the inner circle of divine fellowship, and to come even to the feet of the great God whose help he is imploring. This nearness creates the most lowly view of himself, and leads him to close the psalm upon his face in deepest self-humiliation, begging to be sought out like a lost sheep” (C. H. Spurgeon). The style of the writer is vivid and the framework for his final message comes from his plea to be heard by his God and to seek the blessings of his Lord.

He begs the Lord to let his cry be heard. There is a humble desire to seek the favor of the One who can hear, understand and guide the soul of troubled man. Through the knowledge of the word man can know that God hears and understands. There is a need for man to know the word of the Lord and as the psalmist has shown throughout his psalm the word of the Father is the word of salvation. Truth comes from the law of God. Understanding is sheltered under the wings of God’s grace revealed in the holy commandments. Guiding the footsteps by the precepts of the One who established authority is the only desire of the humble man seeking God’s favor. The Lord hears the cry of the broken hearted. As the word fills the soul the spirit of pride is dispelled. Let my cry come before you, O Lord.

Prayer is the powerful testimony of a heart bent toward the will of the Lord in obedience. The only path of deliverance comes from the hand of God. Supplications from a heart filled with the word of God will bring forth praise. Salvation is in the commandments of the Lord. Learning the statutes of righteousness is knowledge that is everlasting and complete. The psalmist speaks of the word of God because he knows the word of the Lord is truth. Everyone will hear the precepts of righteousness from the lips of those who know the word of God. Let my supplication come before you, O Lord.

Choosing the precepts of God will give man the help he needs in every walk of life. The word of the Lord is complete in directing the soul regarding his relationship with others and with his Creator. Longing for the salvation found in the precepts of His truth will help man find the answers of why he was created, what his purpose in life is and how he can face death. The hand of the Lord is the grace of His love to help in a time of need. God’s word is not just a book of words but a source of delight. Living by the commandments of the Father will not burdensome but make the soul whole and complete lacking nothing. The psalmist prays for the Father to guide his soul and help him pattern his life after the righteous words of salvation given in the word. Let You hand become my help.

In the final words of this great psalm, the writer closes with a song of thanksgiving seeking the favor of God to fill the heart with praise. His prayer is to let the judgments of the word help him like a sheep that is lost and gone astray. He desires for the Lord to come and seek for him and to find him dwelling on the word of God. Asking the Father to come and seek the child is a bold and humble adoration for the trust placed in the word as the promise is made not to forget His commandments. There is no fear of contradiction or spirit of timidity. Asking the Master to seek the servant is a humble request to look deep into the heart of a soul that loves the word of God and bless him with the eternal glory of a God that is worthy of praise, honor and love. Let my soul live and it shall praise You.

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20)

He Is Coming Quickly

Two thousand years have passed since John the apostle penned the Revelation as he languished in exile on an island called Patmos. His testimony of the revelation given to him by the Lord is a stirring message of hope, victory and overcoming. The early saints were suffering incredible hardships under the iron hand of persecution. Throughout the Revelation Jesus seeks to assure the faithful that they are not forgotten and the Lord is coming to take vengeance on all those who oppose Him. John declares from the beginning of the book the events described would take place shortly. There is urgency in the message sprinkled with the eternal hope that Heaven is worth all the suffering this side of eternity. Hope rests in the knowledge that God has not forgotten His people and the Lord will show His power and glory to all men and especially to the institutions that try to destroy His holy church. As the letter to the seven churches comes to a close, Jesus tells John that He is coming quickly and repeats this four times in the final sentences. The things written by John would shortly take place and Jesus declares that He is coming quickly. Those who keep the words of the message will be blessed. When John falls down before the angel Jesus again reiterates that He is coming quickly and His reward is with Him to give to every one according to his work. Jesus declares Himself to be the Alpha and the Omega symbolizing the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet “indicating God’s fullness and completeness, His all-inclusiveness” (Hailey). He is the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. Those who will be blessed are those who do His commandments. The final words of the Revelation declare the glory of Christ as He says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” And He has and He will.

Reading the final words of the Revelation it would seem that Jesus has not come quickly since two thousand years have passed. The message of His coming has a two-fold purpose. Repeatedly in the Revelation God tells His saints the events will take place shortly and they did. The early saints needed to know they were not forgotten as they cried out from under the altar, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” His judgment against those who persecuted the church was vindication for the injustice committed against righteous people. The declaration of His coming still rings true as the Lord will return one day and take vengeance on those who do not know God and that do not obey the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. His coming is quickly as man does not know when this day will come but His return is certain and eminent. The day of the Lord does not come with warning. Like a thief in the night His coming will be in a moment and the twinkling of an eye. The warning is clear: be ready and be prepared or face the consequences. Throughout the Revelation God demonstrates His power over nations, despots, worldly corruption and religions that do not worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Saints may suffer in this life but His coming will usher them into the paradise of God where there is no pain, no sorrow and no suffering. Life is but a vapor and yet upon this mist of time all eternity hangs upon the balance of those who are faithful unto death and those who are not. If Jesus comes today or waits another two thousand years to be revealed with His holy angels His word is truth. His coming is quick and His wrath is full.

John seems to add urgency to the message. He begs for the Lord to come. In John’s life the Lord came when he passed through the shadow of death and was carried by angels to the bosom of Abraham. Sitting on the island of Patmos it is easy to see in the aged eyes of the apostle of Christ a tired and weary spirit. This man has seen so much in his life from the early days of fishing to when this man from Nazareth called him to follow him. He learned to love Jesus with each passing day and became one of the closest friends of God’s Son. Entrusted with the care of Mary, John became part of the family and he lived up to the words of His Savior as He died on the cross. Throughout the early days of the church John remained faithful. He was warned by the Jewish rulers to stop preaching about Jesus. They imprisoned him, beat him and persecuted him for the greater part of his life but he never lost hope. Finally given a Revelation John saw the incredible things of Heaven spilled forth on the pages of suffering, trials and triumph. Laying aside his pen from writing the words given to him by the angel of the Lord his heart must have nearly burst. With all he had seen and heard all he could say at the end was, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” He died the way he lived; looking for the return of his Lord. On a day some distance from the closing of this book, the aged apostle closed his eyes and saw Jesus face to face. His Lord had come.

But these five kings had fled and hidden themselves in a cave at Makkedah. And it was told Joshua, saying, “The five kings have been found hidden in the cave at Makkedah.” So Joshua said, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and set men by it to guard them. And do not stay there yourselves, but pursue your enemies, and attack their rear guard. Do not allow them to enter their cities, for the LORD your God has delivered them into your hand.” Then it happened, while Joshua and the children of Israel made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter, till they had finished, that those who escaped entered fortified cities. And all the people returned to the camp, to Joshua at Makkedah, in peace. No one moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel. Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings to me from the cave.” And they did so, and brought out those five kings to him from the cave: the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon. So it was, when they brought out those kings to Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said to the captains of the men of war who went with him, “Come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings.” And they drew near and put their feet on their necks. Then Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage, for thus the LORD will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.” And afterward Joshua struck them and killed them, and hanged them on five trees; and they were hanging on the trees until evening. So it was at the time of the going down of the sun that Joshua commanded, and they took them down from the trees, cast them into the cave where they had been hidden, and laid large stones against the cave’s mouth, which remain until this very day. (Joshua 10:16-27)

The Five Kings

Canaan was a land filled with the people of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Hivites and the Perizzites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Jebusites. Long before Joshua brought the nation of Israel into the land of milk and honey God had promised Abraham the land would be given to his descendants. When the Lord made the promise to Abraham He told the patriarch the iniquity of the people had not become full or complete. The people of the land were wicked but at the time of Abraham their judgment was not to a place God would destroy them. When Joshua came on the scene, this all changed. After four hundred years the people of Canaan had become so wicked the wrath of God was brought upon them by the hand of the Israelite nation. Joshua was the instrument of the Lord to bring His wrath upon the nations that required the righteous judgment of God. When the spies entered Jericho as the first city to be destroyed by the Lord, Rahab told the men she had heard about the power of God over the Egyptians forty years earlier. The people were terrified of the Israelites. Jericho fell through the power of God and then the city of Ai was destroyed. When the king of Jerusalem heard what happened to Jericho and Ai and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had sued for peace (through trickery), he sought the help of four other kings to fight with him against Israel. The five kings made war against the city of Gibeon because they had made peace with Israel. Men from the city sent word to Joshua to come help them against the kings of the mountains and the Israelites came with a great slaughter against the five kings. Seeing the great slaughter, the five kings hid in a cave. Finding the kings hiding Joshua shut up the cave with large stones until the battle was finished. Returning to the cave, the son of Nun called for the kings to come out and told his captains to place their feet on the heads of these kings. There would be no mercy for these wicked and vile men. Joshua tells the nation not to fear these people who dwell in the land of Canaan because as seen by the five kings subjected to the will of God, there is nothing to fear. He then executes the kings hanging their bodies for all to see until evening. Their bodies are thrown into the cave they were hiding and secured with large stones. The writer includes the cave remained sealed in the day of his writing the book of Joshua.

The wrath of God is clear and demonstrative. There was never a time when the Lord indiscriminately destroyed a nation or people. For modern senses the slaughter of the people and the execution of five kings seem harsh and cruel. The five kings were men of corrupt morals, practices and everything about their nations evidenced a complete disregard for the holiness and sanctity of God. Joshua and the people of Israel were carrying out a plan of judgment upon a society that had become so wicked they needed to be punished and God did just that. There are consequences to sin and in the mind of God He chose to bring judgment upon the nations of Canaan during the conquest by Israel to show His power, His might and His glory. Many generations later the Lord would bring the nations of Assyria and Babylon against His own people to do exactly what they had done to the inhabitants of Canaan. Judgment is not measured by the Lord to a certain sect of people disregarding others but to all who disobey Him and disregard His holy name. The nations of Canaan had filled their lives with gross immorality and the Lord brought judgment upon them through the hand of Joshua. When the Assyrians and Babylonians came against Israel and Judah, the prophets preached repentance to the children of Israel but the people refused. Their judgment came in the same manner as God’s wrath against the five kings and save a remnant that returned seventy years later, the nation was destroyed. Same God, same problem and same punishment.

Five kings tried to hide from God but to no avail. Judgment was required and the people made certain it was carried out in accordance with the will of the Lord. The story of the five kings reminds us that all sin is an abomination to God and whether on a national level or individual response, His wrath will be brought to bear. There is a time of completeness when there is no return. When Abraham walked among the people of Canaan the iniquity was not quite full. Joshua came to the land and the cup was full. God’s wrath was meted out against the wicked nations and His glory was established. History is replete with examples of nations who no longer stand because their wickedness had come full circle. God’s view of sin has never changed. His will is carried out through the centuries against those who become so wicked and vile they can no longer be accepted in the eyes of the Lord. Hiding in a cave will not deter the Lord from His work. So goes the nation that does not believe in God. A day of reckoning is set for all the nations that deny God and worship the gods of this world. Do not be afraid nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage. The Lord fights for you and keeps His word.

When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. (Matthew 25:31-33)

What If He Is Right?

The question for man has always been to determine what lies beyond the grave. He creates mythological figures to explain what he cannot see and stories of cultural fantasies to excite the senses to the mystery of death. Since the beginning of time there has been a denial to anything beyond the grave that would be fearful or dread. For many, death is final and there is nothing beyond – good or bad. Others create pleasure filled nirvana’s that reward the passing in death as a higher plane of experience and knowledge. Religions each share a view of eternal life respective of what they teach in their core doctrines. Most deny the veracity of the Bible as nothing more than fables and myths. It is impossible for anyone to accept there is a Creator that allows man to live after death and choosing right and wrong will determine a course of either eternal joy or everlasting suffering. Thinking the God of the Bible would actually punish a person in an eternal flame is not accepted by the critical thinkers of human wisdom. Hell is a story contrived to scare young children and humor the adults. The idea of an eternal judgment where few are rewarded with goodness and the majority are cast into a lake of fire cannot be accepted as the purpose of life. And so the world continues to whirl around the sun and the lives of six billion souls walking the face of the earth live and die without giving any thought to life after death and certainly not the consequence of life lived and eternity awaiting. But what if Jesus is right and there really is a judgment of good and evil?

There is a deep sadness that overshadows the existence of man because he does not believe in the story of judgment. Arguments can be made for a Biblical reasoning proving the reality of separation in an eternal judgment but for many the idea is hard to imagine. Failing to believe in God hinders the mind to accept eternal doctrines of accountability but it does not change the reality. If anything should be considered it must be from the standpoint of asking the doubter, “What if He is right and there will be a judgment – what then?” All men agree death is final. No man returns from the grave to tell the story of what lies beyond. Everything known about eternity comes from the Bible and only through the word of God can man come to an understanding of the nature of man both physically and eternal. In the revelation of God’s word life after death is opened up and the promise of resurrection established by the story of Jesus Christ. Accepting the story of Christ comes from a faith that believes in the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. And that is the problem. Man will not believe what he cannot see. He hears Jesus tell the story of judgment and refuses to believe and accept God will separate men like sheep and goats. There is a spirit of denial to agree that some men will be ushered into an eternal paradise of joy while others are cast into a place of eternal torment. But what if Jesus is right and there really is a judgment day?

Believers in Christ will reject the question suggesting Jesus is right because their faith is established upon the promises of God and that He cannot lie. But on the surface for nonbelievers how do they rationalize the idea that when death comes in its final form and there is no return – what will they do if they find out what Jesus said was exactly true and they stand before God in judgment – what then? It is here the heartbreaking news comes to bear upon the tortured soul that knows God is real, the Bible true and judgment sure. Every man who dies becomes a believer in God. They may have denied the existence of God in their life but in their death they became an absolute believer in the power of the Lord. All they denied in life is accepted in death. Ignoring the word of God will change when the shadow of death descends upon them. The last breath of a nonbeliever is the first breath when a person dies and realizes there really is an eternal God. At that time it is too late because there is no return from the dead. In the fantasy world of man he would want to enter death and see God face to face so that he can return and believe in God in life. Tearfully all men die and see God and there is no return to seek the face of the Father in life. Eternity is final, absolute and complete. If a man does not believe in God now he will when he dies. The difference will be that he can change his heart while he walks among men but when he stands before the heavenly hosts there will no change of station although the heart has changed. Lost will always be lost and saved will always be saved. That is the character of eternity. It is not a matter of “What if he is right” but “What must I do to be saved?” That is the most important question a man can know. What about you?

Therefore do not be partakers with them. (Ephesians 5:7)

The Challenge Of Separation

Kermit the Frog sang woefully ‘It’s not that easy being green” because he was so much like the colors of everything else that he blended in. No one would notice a green frog. Harder still is choosing to be different from the world and stand out in a very noticeable way where everyone does see how different a person is by the way they live, the manner of speech and even how they dress. Life can be challenging for the child of God. Acceptance is a normal part of life. From infancy the need for companionship comes from a desire to be recognized by others as equals and to share in the common interest in life. Learning to be a disciple of Christ creates a challenge to be set apart from the norms of society rejecting what are common acceptable behaviors. Sexual freedom has always been what every society presents as a normal part of the human lifestyle. Expressing a desire to enjoy the fleshly pleasures between a man and woman are expected from an early adult age and more often than not encouraged by society. There is very little information about abstinence compared to protection. Proponents of ‘waiting for marriage sexuality’ are in the minority in a world filled with entertainment that propels the sexual union of two people as freedom, expression of love and fun. In a world where marriage is no longer defined as man and woman the sexual freedoms are liberated to encourage same-sex unions. Always promising rewards of pleasure the world entices the heart to fill itself with fornication and uncleanness.

Money is the green that brings more heartache than the woes of Kermit the frog. Covetousness is not a word in the vocabulary of most people but it is the most common heart disease. Lotteries tout the chance of winning millions and millions of dollars to bring untold happiness to a soul that will find more heartache, sorrow and misery in the dollar than anything in their life. There are many temptations that stand before the child of God and the desire to imbibe in some or all of these delicacies of worldly fun seem more than a soul can bear. Obscene, flippant and vulgar talk is the gutter language of the world and Christian’s find themselves wallowing in the mire of such filth. The apostle Paul has a clear and demonstrative admonition for all those who profess Christ: Do not partake of such things nor participate with those who do! Imitating God does not come from fornication, uncleanness covetousness, filthiness, foolish talking and coarse jesting. There is one thing very clear that every Christian must know and understand: following after these kinds of morally corrupt lifestyles and attitudes will send the soul to hell. Paul said it like this, “For this you know that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.” That is as clear as clear can be. There is no reservation about the kind of things that will damn a soul to a lake of fire and children of God should not partake in such things nor partake with those who do.

The challenge of separation is challenging to keep oneself unspotted from the world. Those who wallow in the mud with hogs will become just as filthy as the ones they wallow with. Those things that displease the Lord should be avoided at all costs. Matthew Henry writes, “We partake with other men in their sins, not only when we live in the same sinful manner that they do, and consent and comply with their temptations and solicitations to sin, but when we encourage them in their sins, prompt them to sin, and do not prevent and hinder them, as far as it may be in our power to do so.” A clear line of defense must be drawn to keep the influences of evil from our lives so as to not partake of such things. There is to be no fellowship with the works of Satan. Too many Christians are so green like the world around them it is hard to tell the difference in a holy life and an unholy life. They dress like the world, talk like the world and accept the sinful nature of the world. It is not hard to be green because they blend in with the world. Therefore do not be partakers with them. Walk in the light as children of light.

Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum. And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, “for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.” Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick. (Luke 7:1-10)

Making Jesus Marvel

Standing on the sea shore in the early morning hours watching the sun peek over the horizon and burst into brilliant colors of indescribable brilliance is something that can take the breath away. Gazing over the mountain tops billowed by the morning mist is an awe inspiring scene of pastel beauty that is almost more than the eyes can take in. Looking into the face of a newborn baby in the wonderment of birth causes the heart to burst with emotions never known until a man becomes a father or a mother caresses for the first time her little child. There are many things that bring awe and surprise to the mind of men as they fathom the incredible world created by God. As incredible as the wonders of life can be there is nothing more incredible than to consider that the Son of God marveled at the faith of a man who was not a part of the nation of the Lord. A centurion was a commander of about one hundred men in the powerful Roman Legions that had established the Empire for Rome.

On a day when Jesus entered Capernaum a certain centurion sent elders of the Jews to beg of Him to heal a servant that was very dear to him. The Lord agreed to go to the centurion’s home to heal the servant but before He arrived friends of the centurion came to Jesus with a message. There was no need for the Lord to come to the house as the centurion did not feel worthy for such a man to come into his home. As a centurion, he was familiar with authority and when he spoke men obeyed. He commanded men by issuing commands and as a centurion had great power to change the lives of many men. His message to Jesus was that as powerful as he was in the Roman Legions as a man of war he knew the power of Jesus was so much greater to do an impossible task to heal his servant. The centurion had such great faith he told Jesus but speak the word and the servant would be healed. It would be one thing to have Jesus touch the servant or do something special when he came into the house but the centurion believed that Jesus only had to say the word and his servant would be healed.

It is a wonder to cause the Son of God to marvel but the centurion did exactly that. The word marvel is defined as something that inspires, causes awe or amazement. It can be admiration for someone who does a wonderful or astonishing thing. The commander of a Roman Legion caused Jesus Christ the Son of God to marvel. There were many examples of faith as Jesus healed the blind and raised the dead but the faith of the centurion struck the Son of God especially in a marvelous way. He was amazed that a man showed such faith that he begged Jesus just say the word and a miracle would take place. Turning to the crowd that followed Him, Jesus told them He had not seen that kind of faith among His own people. The servant was healed from his sickness and the people of Israel would kill the Son of God because of their lack of faith.

Jesus marveled because He had not seen such faith in Israel. Is it possible to cause the Son of God to marvel at our faith? What does He see in our lives that would cause him to be in awe or amazement? There is need among the people of God to show their faith by extraordinary means of trusting in the power of God to do the impossible. The centurion’s faith was not a mythical Bible story to inspire but a real faith in a real man who trusted so completely in the power of God that he asked Jesus to speak the word and his servant would be healed. Faith that is full is faith fully trusting God to work in our lives and do what may seem impossible. Like Israel of old it is easy for the church to have a weak faith in the power of God. Evangelism suffers, hearts are downtrodden and lives filled with the world resulting in stunted growth, weak spirits and souls lost. The church needs to bring amazement to the eyes of God. Christians need to start living in such a manner that Jesus will marvel at their faith. The Godhead is looking for marvelous things to happen. What does He see in your life? Make Jesus marvel today.